Tyson is director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space and a research associate in the department of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. He is a highly regarded spokesman for science through his numerous books and TV programs, and he has received the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by NASA.

His talk at the Chapel will be on “Ten Things You Should Know about the Universe,” and a book-signing reception will follow at the Ho Science Center.

Admission to the lecture is free, but tickets are required. Colgate students, faculty, and staff can get tickets at the O’Connor Campus Center (Coop) starting Wednesday, February 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the lobby and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Center for Leadership and Student Involvement (CLSI) front desk. There is a two-ticket limit for each person, and a ‘Gate Card is required. Tickets will be made available to the general public beginning Tuesday, February 19.

Tyson’s appearance is sponsored by the Physics Club, Brothers, The Michael J. Wolk Lecture Series, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Core Scientific Perspectives.

Tyson is the author of numerous books, including Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, which was a New York Times bestseller, and The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet.

Next year, Tyson will host a sequel of the famed TV show Cosmos, originally hosted by astronomer and writer Carl Sagan. Tyson already has hosted five seasons of the educational science show NOVA scienceNOW on PBS, and he often appears on TV programs like The Colbert Report,Real Time with Bill Maher, and The Daily Show.

He also is a prolific user of Twitter (@neiltyson), and has more than 1 million followers on the popular social media and microblogging platform.